A Visit to the United States in 1841 eBook

above referred to, my duty to it and myself is,
to tender you this as my resignation of the office
of Vice President for Pennsylvania, and not to
await another election for withdrawing from it.

“With no heart for the controversies
which have got in among my brethren, the common
friends of the enslaved, and which are sadly wasting
their anti-slavery strength, but with a warm heart
for the legitimate objects of the American Anti-Slavery
Society, I shall not cease anxiously to desire
its prosperity and speedy triumph with these just
limitations.

“Your friend,

“(Signed) ABRAHAM L.
PENNOCK.

“Haverford, 6th Month
28th, 1841.”

APPENDIX I. P. 146.

GERRIT SMITH’S SLAVES.

Extract of a Letter from James Cannings Fuller
to Joseph Sturge.

“DEAR FRIEND,—­Doubtless
thou hast often thought of the visit to our mutual
friend, Gerrit Smith, and dwelt on the recollection
with pleasure. As thou requested me to furnish
thee with the result of the case which was brought
under our notice from the correspondence in the
case of Sam and Harriet, I cheerfully comply,
by giving thee a somewhat detailed account, believing
it may be interesting to thee, and not unproductive
of benefit to others.

“There are in America no small
number of individuals whose circumstances, by
parental gift or marriage endowments, are similar
to those of our dear friend, Ann Carroll Smith.
I would there were a host prepared, like her and
her noble husband, to do sacrifice of their substance
on the altar of human rights.

“Ann Carroll Fitzhugh is the daughter
of the late Col. Wm. Fitzhugh, a slaveholder,
who formerly resided in Hagerstown, Maryland.
About twenty-three years ago, he removed to Geneseo,
New York. Twenty human chattels, whom he brought
with him, became free by the law of 1817; the
remainder were left on his plantation, in Maryland.
Mammy Rachael, who nursed the Colonel’s wife,
on the births of James Fitzhugh and his sister Ann,
gave to the former a boy, who was named Sam; and
to the latter a girl, called Harriet. They
grew up together, and ultimately formed a strong
attachment. When Ann Fitzhugh was about eighteen
years old, her brother wrote to inquire if she
would give him Harriet, that she might become
Sam’s wife. When it is considered that
Ann was young and inexperienced; that she had been
educated to consider slavery right; that the doctrine
of inalienable personal ownership had not then
been urged; and that the idea of bestowing a wife
on her brother’s slave was naturally pleasing,
it is no marvel that she cheerfully granted the
request.

“James Fitzhugh removed from Maryland
to Kentucky. In the course of events, his
pecuniary affairs became embarrassed, and creditors
grew clamorous for the adjustment of their claims.